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Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman wants to use an additional $3.4 million in revenue from the city’s hotel bed tax to promote travel and tourism efforts, support the arts and fund human services for the needy.

COLUMBUS, OH (Nov. 14, 2012) – As the Columbus hospitality industry continues to grow, changes in the City’s Bed Tax formula proposed by Mayor Michael B. Coleman and City Council President Andrew J. Ginther will mean new investment in 2013 and 2014 that will spur economic growth. Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission applaud City leaders for engaging with the industry, carrying out detailed analysis of the competitive situation, and investing in the Destination Columbus Plan through the 2013 budget process.

“The Mayor and City Council are key partners in our work and putting a sustainable and predictable funding formula in place shows that they are serious about helping Columbus reach its potential in a competitive industry,” said Lisa Hinson, Board Chair of Experience Columbus. “We applaud all the partners who worked on this issue and who will continue to carry forward our momentum in 2013 and beyond.”

Mayor Coleman unveiled elements of the plan to stakeholders this week in anticipation of the 2013 General Fund Budget which will be presented to City Council on November 15. The proposal will drive new investment to Experience Columbus, the Greater Columbus Arts Council and local human services agencies historically funded by bed tax revenues paid by visitors. These changes will mean increased funding for national sales and marketing efforts by Experience Columbus and Greater Columbus Sports Commission to attract more business to Columbus and an estimated $689 million impact from increased visitor spending.

“After years of discussion and the work of the Finance Review and Advisory Committee, the City is taking action that will benefit the entire region’s economy, improve our national image and improve the financial stability of our partners in the arts and human services,” said Paul Astleford, president and CEO of Experience Columbus. “The two-phase approach to begin enacting elements of the FRAC plan, including bed tax formula reform, is an important step. Over the next five years, this will allow our team to win bigger events, bringing millions of additional visitors and business travelers to Columbus to discover one of the nation’s best cities.”

(Columbus)—Community leaders are praising a plan that looks to overhaul the way the City’s portion of the hotel/motel bed tax is allocated in Columbus. The proposal will increase funding for Experience Columbus, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and human services without raising the bed tax itself to create a permanent, sustainable funding stream for all three of these important sectors of the community.

The reallocation plan comes after more than a year of public meetings and a series of recommendations made to City leaders by the Funding Review and Advisory Committee, a group brought together by Council President Andrew J. Ginther and Mayor Michael B. Coleman to study current, future, and potential non-income tax revenue and the way the City funds economic development, human services, cultural arts and the promotion of travel and tourism.

“All three of these groups see the value in working together to come up with a funding plan that ensures the long term sustainability of each of their missions: to grow our local economy, enrich the lives of our residents and visitors, and care for the most vulnerable in our community,” said Council President Ginther.

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